The Dexing Copper Mine is a super-scaled copper mine in China.Release of large amounts of tailings is one of its main environmental problems.The tailings are stored in several tailing pools and No.1 tailing pool has in storage about 2.15×10⁷ m³ of tailings covering an area of 210 hm² after running out of service in 1986.Beginning from the late 1990s,a series of experiments were performed on revegetation of a part of the mine tailing pool,dam slope,30 hm² in acreage,which was covered with guest soil.Changes in basic agrochemical properties of the soil and extractable heavy metals(by 0.05 mol L^-1 HCl)under different vegetations,e.g.upland rice(Oryza Linn.),peanut(Arachis Linn.),vetiver(Vetiveria zizanioides Nash)and slash pine(Pinuselliottii Engelm.)were determined during the experiment period of 3-4 years.The results indicated that the soil was very low in nutrients N,P and K and in nutrient loading capacity as well.It is therefore necessary to build up soil fertility continuously.Soil pH did not show much change,soil OM increased significantly but soil NH₄⁺-N decreased with the time.Though soil available P and K obviously increased,they were still at a low level.Soil heavy metal pollution,especially with Cu,was very serious.Moreover,Cu,Pb,Zn,and Cd accumulated in the plants and exceeded the criteria of the food hygiene standards in some food crops and vegetables.The results indicate that for revegetation of the tailing pool,it is not advisable to grow food crops lest contamination should be spread through food chain.